Heavenly Court

[MelanieM]

I've often heard of this term, can someone please explain what the "Heavenly Court" is?

God bless

[DavidObeid]

Hi Melanie,

Thanks for your question.

The expression "heavenly court" is speaking about a royal court, not a legal one. It is how we describe the hierarchy of heaven arranged before the throne of God.

[MelanieM]

Hi David,

Thanks for your answer.

Can you please tell me who makes up the heirarchy in heaven?

God bless.

[DavidObeid]

The Blessed Trinity is surrounded in court by Our Lady and all of the Angels in their various choirs and the Saints in their various degrees of glory.

[MelanieM]

Thanks David.

What are the various choirs of the Angels?

God Bless

[DavidObeid]

The Lumen Verum Apologetics article on the angels answers your question in a straightforward way:

According to the Fathers of the Church, the angels are divided into three hierarchies, and each hierarchy into three choirs:

(i) Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones.
(ii) Dominations, Principalities, Powers.
(iii) Virtues, Archangels, Guardian Angels.

(Source http://www.lumenverum.org/apologetics/ApostlesCreed/page24.html)

[MelanieM]

Wonderful, thank you!

That's all for now :)

God bless

[DavidObeid]

Happy to help.

The whole topic of heaven and how it is arranged is an interesting one and many things have been written on it. The best answer, I think, to our questions about it will be given to us if we spend our lives preparing to die well.

Pray for me and my family and we will pray for you!

[MelanieM]

Deal :)

God bless